South Torrance High senior soccer defender Morgan Mullin fondly remembers going to the International Surf Festival’s sand beach soccer tournament with her father Dan and his friends.

Dan Mullin and the other soccer dads called themselves the Old Fogeys.

Now Morgan Mullin brought her own team of Spartans to the tournament to break up the monotony of summer and play the sport they love.

“I used to play on my dad’s teams with his friends, but now I have my own team,” Morgan Mullin said. “My dad couldn’t make it this year. But we have people from club and high school, and it’s just a fun day at the beach.”

Tucked away at the edge of Torrance Beach, the sand soccer tournament lacks the pageantry, history or fanfare of the Charlie Saikley Six-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament or other Surf Festival mainstays.

Tournament director Steve Thornton, a former club soccer coach, started the event nearly eight years ago and said he prefers the low-key approach.

Whole Foods of Torrance had set up a tent, giving away food and drinks to participants and fans.

This year featured 15 teams, enough for two courts. Thornton opted for a more intimate atmosphere with one court.

The court is modeled after a futsal court, except with plenty of sand to contend with. Teams can be co-ed, and often there are vast age differences. Losing teams also are allowed to bring in an extra player.

It is a reprieve from the club soccer scene.

“Club is so aggressive and cutthroat that they forget to have fun,” Thornton said. “I want to keep it local, friendly and fun.”

Thornton’s son Cody is also participating, both as a player and as a referee.

Cody Thornton, a West Torrance graduate, will be the place-kicker for the El Camino College football team. He said he still loves this tournament.

“It’s a chance to go out and have fun before all the seriousness of club begins,” Cody Thornton said.

Mullin brought a talent-laden squad.

University of San Francisco-bound Amanda Whittle, an Olympic Development Program player, was at the center of the Spartan attack.

So was creative playmaker Kalyn Kaemerle.

Sam Nadeau and recent Mira Costa graduate Kat Dirado were also on the team.

And in goal was Whittle’s freshman sister Ashley, who was holding her own on the challenging sand courts.

Amanda Whittle said it was a new experience for her.

“In the first game, I couldn’t even dribble because of the sand,” Amanda Whittle said. “But it gets easier.”

Kaemerle said it takes a bit of an adjustment.

“It’s more of a challenge because you can’t do your normal moves,” Kaemerle said. “It’s also unpredictable for a goalkeeper because of the bounces.”

Erin Fieger Hernandez saw the tournament as an opportunity to bring two of her Palos Verdes-based Fram club teams: a U-13 team and a U-10 team.

Her U-13 team is fairly decorated, having recently won the Legends Cup while advancing to the finals of the Cerritos and Slammers tournaments and the LAFC semifinals. They have also been invited to the National Premier League and are ranked No. 23 nationally.

On Saturday, they took a more laid-back approach, changing their name to the Seaweed Pickers for the day.

“This is something different for the girls,” said Hernandez, who is also a Mira Costa assistant coach. “It’s not really about coaching today. It’s about team bonding and having fun.”

Among the standouts on the U-13 team are Rancho Palos Verdes residents Alayne Taylor and Robyn Estrada and Torrance resident Taylor Bandel.

In fact, this trio of 12-year-olds played in Soccer City’s futsal league.

“I haven’t played sand soccer, but I’m excited,” said Taylor, who turns 13 on Thursday. “I love the water and ocean and the scenery here.”